Improvement in the fvlodes of preparing rawhide for belting



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,HERMAN BUYER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MODES OF PREPARING RAWHIDE FOR BELTING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. H ll-9,954, dated April21, 1874; application filed December 31, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN BUYER, of San. Francisco, county of SanFrancisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in theTreatment of Rawhide, especially for the use of belts and laces, ofwhich the following is a specification:

After the removal of the hair from the hide by means of sweating aprocess familiar to every tannerthe hide is dried perfectly hard. Thenit is inserted in water for ten to fifteen minutes, long enough to loseits extreme stiffness. In this condition the process of fullin g iscommenced. This may be done in a machine constructed for this purposeand patented by me May '12, 1868, under No. 77,920. Before the hide ispassed into the machine the second time it is stuffed with a mixture oftwenty parts tallow, two parts wood-tar, and one part rosin. About twopounds of this mixture is put on'a steer hide in a warm liquid statewith a brush. After the hide leaves the machine the second time, it isready for the next operation. It is then moistened with water four orfive times during the day. Thenext day it is stretched and out intopieces suitable for beltin For purposes of lacing the thinnest hides areselected, and after they have gone through the same mode of treatment ashides for belting, they are shaved, oiled, and hung up to get perfectlydry, when the hide is cut into strings. In order to more fullyunderstand my mode of preparing hides I avoid the use of lime, acid, oralkali, for just to the amount a hide is impregnated with suchsubstances it suffers in its tensile strength and toughness a slow butconstant dissolution is going on with hides so impregnated.

I am aware that hides and skins have been prepared by a fulling orbending operation to render them pliable, but this mode alone does notanswer for the preparation of machine belts and lacing. It is necessaryto make use of a preparation substantially such as before described torender the rawhide fit for use and durable.

The tallow has the effect of imparting a high degree of elasticity andkeeps themoisture. The wood-tar prevents dogs, cats, mice, vermin, em,from attacking the hide, at the same time causing the tallow to enterthe hide quickly and thoroughly. The rosin gives the belting a certainsolidity and glossy appearance, and assists also in preventing animalsand vermin from attacking the beltin Belts and lacing made of suchprepared hide are in all respects stronger, more lasting, and cheaperthan those made from common leather.

Having thus fully described my invention, I desire to claim- Thetreatment of the prepared rawhide in the manner and for the purposes setforth.

This specification signed this 30th day of November, 1872.

I-I. ROYER.

Witnesses E. V. TUTTER, \VILLIAM FIR-DERER.

